Organic light-emitting display apparatus

Abstract

An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: a first substrate; an insulating layer on the first substrate; a signal wiring on the insulating layer; an organic light-emitting device on the first substrate, the organic light-emitting device defining an active area and including a first electrode, a second electrode, and an intermediate layer between the first and second electrodes; a passivation layer on the insulating layer; and a metal layer on the passivation layer at an outer region adjacent to the active area, separated from the first electrode, and contacting the second electrode and the signal wiring, wherein a first opening is in the passivation layer at the outer region, and the metal layer contacts the insulating layer at the first opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An organic light-emitting display apparatus comprising:
 a first substrate; 
 an insulating layer on the first substrate; 
 a signal wiring on the insulating layer; 
 an organic light-emitting device on the first substrate, the organic light-emitting device defining an active area and comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and an intermediate layer between the first and second electrodes; 
 a passivation layer on the insulating layer; 
 a circuit unit below the passivation layer and comprising a plurality of thin-film transistors; and 
 a metal layer on the passivation layer at an outer region adjacent to the active area and contacting the second electrode and the signal wiring, 
 wherein a first opening is in the passivation layer at the outer region, and the metal layer contacts the insulating layer at the first opening, 
 wherein the metal layer and the first electrode comprise the same material, 
 wherein the metal layer has a second opening above the passivation layer and outside the second electrode, 
 wherein the first opening is formed toward the active area from the circuit unit and the second opening is formed toward the outer region from the circuit unit, and 
 wherein a bottom surface of the signal wiring, a bottom of the first opening, and a top surface of the insulating layer are at a same level from a top surface of the first substrate. 
 
     
     
       2. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the metal layer is separated from the first electrode. 
     
     
       3. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pixel defining film covering a part of the first electrode and a part of the metal layer and contacting the passivation layer. 
     
     
       4. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening extends across the passivation layer, and
 wherein the passivation layer comprises two portions separated at the first opening. 
 
     
     
       5. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the metal layer has a plurality of the second openings. 
     
     
       6. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of the second openings are arranged along a line parallel to an end of the second electrode. 
     
     
       7. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is configured to prevent impurities in the passivation layer at the outer region from migrating to the active area. 
     
     
       8. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second substrate over the second electrode; and 
 a sealant between the first and second substrates and coupling the first and second substrates to each other. 
 
     
     
       9. The organic light-emitting display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the metal layer electrically connects the second electrode and the signal wiring to each other.